Venice Government in the Renaissance In the early years of Venice, the Doge ruled. To ensure the Doge didn’t have absolute power, the Doge took a pledge, when he was elected to ensure his power over Venice would not decrease or increase whatsoever. Before the time of the Doge, the original leaders were the Rialto family who were aristocrats. This family eventually became part of the Minor Council.
The Minor Council was one part of Venetian government. The government was called the Signoria. The Signoria was made up of the Doge, Minor Council, and the Quartania. The Signoria was very much like the United States’ government today. The Doge is very similar to our president. He was elected for life not four years. He made powerful decisions, had his own branch of government, and he represented the country. The Minor Council is similar to the U.S. President’s advisors. They help him make decisions to ensure that everyone is happy. The Quartania is closely related to court leaders. The Signoria is the main branch of government. The sapientes are the executive branch. The Consiglio dei Pregadi is the senate of Venice.
The Venetian government is constructed as a mixed republic. It includes Aristocracy, Democracy, Monarchy, and Republic. The Aristocracy part is the Senate. Democracy part forms the Minor Council. The monarchy part is the Doge. It is like a republic because it allows the people to pick their leaders. However, the people do not have the right to vote. They tell their representative what they think and they help voice the people’s opinion.
The beginning of Venice was founded by Lombard refugees. They established the Council of Ten in 1310 which eventually became the Minor Council. By expanding the amount of members they no longer called the organization the Council of Ten because there were about forty members.
Believe it or not, in the sixteenth century, Venice was the third largest city in the world. It was beaten by Technochitlan (second) and Constantinople (first). Venice citizens did not have much freedom. They just had to follow the government laws, even if the laws were unjust. This atmosphere kept Venice stable at times.
The power of Venice’s navy made up for the freedom. They had total control of the Adriatic Sea. The navy was so advanced that Venice couldn’t be conquered or overthrown. (Believe me, the Byzantine Empire tried!!!) One of the very best navy members, Marco Polo, traveled to Beijing to try to get advancements in Venice. He then considered himself an explorer.
How were Doges Elected?
Doges were elected for life. The city-state aristocracy, or the Senate, elected the Doge. The Doge was normally the shrewdest elder in the city. Forty people chose the Doge. Four people chose the people who elected the Doge. At first, there were forty members. After a complete tie in 1229, there was another member added to the council. The Doge couldn’t just assume the position as Doge either. He had to take an oath and was presented to the people. The priest said, “This is your Doge, if it please you.” The citizens either showed their approval or revolted against the “to be Doge”.
To conclude, Venice is a very strong country and showed how powerful it was in many ways such as the navy, society, and citizens. The country of Venice during the Renaissance had a lot of great people and rulers emerge and showed how the government was very stable. The government of Venice was unlike others of its time and was very unique.
References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Venice
Definition of Aristocracy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy_(class)
Definition of Democracy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic
Definition of Republic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/middleages/venice/venice.html http://muse.tau.ac.il/museum/galileo/venice_eng.html
Venice Government by Rylie Kalb
B3 History
Venice Government in the Renaissance
In the early years of Venice, the Doge ruled. To ensure the Doge didn’t have absolute power, the Doge took a pledge, when he was elected to ensure his power over Venice would not decrease or increase whatsoever. Before the time of the Doge, the original leaders were the Rialto family who were aristocrats. This family eventually became part of the Minor Council.
The Minor Council was one part of Venetian government. The government was called the Signoria. The Signoria was made up of the Doge, Minor Council, and the Quartania. The Signoria was very much like the United States’ government today. The Doge is very similar to our president. He was elected for life not four years. He made powerful decisions, had his own branch of government, and he represented the country. The Minor Council is similar to the U.S. President’s advisors. They help him make decisions to ensure that everyone is happy. The Quartania is closely related to court leaders. The Signoria is the main branch of government. The sapientes are the executive branch. The Consiglio dei Pregadi is the senate of Venice.
The Venetian government is constructed as a mixed republic. It includes Aristocracy, Democracy, Monarchy, and Republic. The Aristocracy part is the Senate. Democracy part forms the Minor Council. The monarchy part is the Doge. It is like a republic because it allows the people to pick their leaders. However, the people do not have the right to vote. They tell their representative what they think and they help voice the people’s opinion.
The beginning of Venice was founded by Lombard refugees. They established the Council of Ten in 1310 which eventually became the Minor Council. By expanding the amount of members they no longer called the organization the Council of Ten because there were about forty members.
Believe it or not, in the sixteenth century, Venice was the third largest city in the world. It was beaten by Technochitlan (second) and Constantinople (first). Venice citizens did not have much freedom. They just had to follow the government laws, even if the laws were unjust. This atmosphere kept Venice stable at times.
The power of Venice’s navy made up for the freedom. They had total control of the Adriatic Sea. The navy was so advanced that Venice couldn’t be conquered or overthrown. (Believe me, the Byzantine Empire tried!!!) One of the very best navy members, Marco Polo, traveled to Beijing to try to get advancements in Venice. He then considered himself an explorer.
How were Doges Elected?
Doges were elected for life. The city-state aristocracy, or the Senate, elected the Doge. The Doge was normally the shrewdest elder in the city. Forty people chose the Doge. Four people chose the people who elected the Doge. At first, there were forty members. After a complete tie in 1229, there was another member added to the council. The Doge couldn’t just assume the position as Doge either. He had to take an oath and was presented to the people. The priest said, “This is your Doge, if it please you.” The citizens either showed their approval or revolted against the “to be Doge”.To conclude, Venice is a very strong country and showed how powerful it was in many ways such as the navy, society, and citizens. The country of Venice during the Renaissance had a lot of great people and rulers emerge and showed how the government was very stable. The government of Venice was unlike others of its time and was very unique.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Venice
Definition of Aristocracy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy_(class)
Definition of Democracy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic
Definition of Republic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/middleages/venice/venice.html
http://muse.tau.ac.il/museum/galileo/venice_eng.html
IN CASE YOU STILL DON’T UNDERSTAND…
Doge = PresidentMinor Council = President’s advisors
Quartania = court leaders Venice Coat of Arms
Signoria = THE WHOLE THING!!!!
In Math terms:
If Venice government and United States government were figures, they wouldn’t be congruent. They are similar figures. They are almost the same, but not quite.
P.S. If you don’t know what similar figures or congruent figures mean:
Congruent figures: figures that are exactly the same size, shape, color, ANYTHING!
Similar figures: figures that have the same shape, but not the same size! Go to other places:
Back to Venice
Venice Religion
Venice Renaissance Men
Explorers of Venice
Venice Demigraphics
Venice Maps
Powerful Renaissance Leaders of Venice
See other people's pages who made the Venice page possible:
Makinzy Andrews
Harley Carlson
Dalis Fox
Rylie Kalb
Katie Spring
Cari Zellmann